17 NOVEMBER 1888, Page 42

Wad Life in the Land of the Giants. By Gordon

Stables, M.D. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—Dr. Gordon Stables has added another to the list of books so dear to a boy's heart. His power to amuse and interest seems to be as fresh and vigorous as ever. Perhaps he appears to even better advantage than usual in the volume which we have just read. The adventures are not so thrilling as in some of his former works, but there is rather more of a story. Old, we venture to predict, as well as young will be entertained by the story of the inseparable twin-brothers who passed through so many strange scenes together. It is this affection that gives the story much of its charm. We doubt, therefore, if Dr. Stables has done well to give his book a somewhat melancholy ending. The hero, it is true, marries, and, we hope, lives happily; but he loses his brother. There is a certain dramatic fitness in this. The gods look askance at happiness which is too great. But we nmst confess that we are sorry. By-the-way, we do not like the word resilient. It seems a little stilted.